01/15/2014

New Year, New Faces: Meet the New Hire Class of 2014

A tradition at the AJGA is to spend a few days celebrating our new employees, and as the culmination of the festivities, it is my honor to introduce you to the official New Hire Class of 2014.

(Editor's note: Our new hire class contains all full-timers who began their employment late in 2013 or at the first of the new year.)

Below we feature 13 employees – across Player Services, Operations, Sponsorship, IT and Communications – all of whom are working together with their departments to make great things happen for the AJGA in #AJGA2014 and beyond.

We hope you’ll have a chance to meet or work with them sometime soon but for now, in true AJGA style, a few fun facts:

Sports claim to fame: As a 15-year-old, I made it to the semifinals of the RE/MAX World Junior Long Drive Championship.

Fun fact about me: I spent my last semester of college on the Arizona Cardinals sideline helping with NFL Films projects.

Favorite thing about the AJGA: The people. AJGA employees are the most hilarious, hardworking and helpful group of people I could imagine working with. Outside the office, meeting all of the players is a great experience as well.

Sports Claim to Fame: Other than being the star player on my college intramural basketball team, I was a four-year letter winner in golf and was the team’s assistant coach when we won the 2013 Horizon League Championship.

Life Claim to Fame: Surviving life as a middle child between two sisters (“the rose between two thorns” so to speak – I’m kidding, I love them) OR having a photo that I took as an operations intern be used on the front page of the AJGA website (the 2011 Natural Resources Partners Bluegrass Junior check presentation picture).

Favorite thing about the AJGA: Watching the juniors tear it up on the course, seeing new golf courses, and talking with college coaches.

Dexter Martin, Senior Vice President, Information Technology

Education: South Carolina State University

Sports claim to fame: Awarded a full college track scholarship as a sprinter.

Life claim to fame: I work as a nutrition coach to help people change their lives.

Number of states left to visit: 10.

Favorite thing about the AJGA: The energy of the staff and the corporate culture.

Sports claim to fame: Set the record (66) at two courses: Bailey Ranch (Owasso, Okla.) and Lake Hefner (Oklahoma City, Okla.).

Favorite trip and why: When I was 15, I qualified to play in the [now named] Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach where I had the opportunity to meet Champions Tour players and celebrities including Arnold Palmer, Bill Murray and George Lopez.

Fun fact: I have written music since I was 11. I love to sing and play the guitar!

Sports claim to fame: I have bowled a 287. Yes, my sports claim to fame is in bowling.

Travel diary: I visited Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Wisconsin, Ohio, Kentucky, Texas and Iowa just from doing the AJGA internship! It is amazing how much the internship has to offer and all the places you get to see.

Fun fact: With two brothers who were quarterbacks,I can throw a football 25 yards (maybe more on a good day).